System and Method for Rebuilding a Sand Beach

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for rebuilding a sand beach along a shore line is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a generally hollow module having an interior space, the interior space adapted to be filled with ballast material, the module having a landward surface and a generally opposing seaward surface when positioned along the shore line, a flow through passage extending through the interior space between the landward surface and the seaward surface, the flow through passage permitting flow of sand laden water between the landward surface and the seaward surface, and a removable portal providing access to the interior space to permit introduction of ballast material into the interior space when the module is placed along the shore line.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/184,385, filed on Jun. 5, 2009, the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system and method for rebuilding asand beach.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shore erosion can be a problem along a shore line of a body of water asa result of wave action in the body of water. One system for preventingsuch shore erosion is described in Herzog, U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,912. Thesystem comprises a series of structures placed end-to-end along theshore line to form a wall which a wave can pass through or over,depositing sand over and around the structures as the wave recedes.However in certain circumstances, the structures described by Herzog maybe difficult to place along the shoreline.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a module according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a series of the modules of FIG. 1 placed along ashore line; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of a series of the modules of FIG. 1 placed alonga shore line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there will be described herein in detail, a specific embodimentthereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to beconsidered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention andis not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodimentillustrated.

Referring to the Figures, a hollow plastic module 10 according to thepresent invention is illustrated. The module 10 may be smaller in sizethan the device described in Herzog, preferably having a height of 12,″a depth at its base of 20,″ and a width of 20.″ The module 10 may begenerally trapezoidal in cross-section.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a series of these modules 10 are placedend-to-end, forming a system generally following the contour of theshore line. The modules 10 have one, generally concave sidewall and onegenerally convex sidewall, to permit the system to follow the contour ofa shore line.

The module 10 includes a base portion 12 defining an interior space anda fitted removable lid 14. The lid 14 is generally rectangular,preferably having a dimension of 20″ by 8″. Alternatively the lid 14 maybe fixed to the module 10 and include a removable portion thereof, suchas a threaded closure 14′ threadably engaged to the lid 14

The module 10 further includes hollow, generally horizontal, tubularmembers 18, or flow through passages, passing through the module 10 froma front (water) side 19 to a back (land) side 20. The tubular members 18are isolated from the interior space of the module 10. According to oneoption, the tubular members are 4″ in diameter in the front, tapering to2″ in diameter in the back. However other shapes for the tubular members18, tapered or otherwise, are also contemplated. As waves laden withsand pass over and through the module 10, and then recede through thetubular members 18, sand is deposited over and around the module 10,thereby building the shore line.

The module 10 further includes generally hollow, ½″ tubular structures22 that pass generally vertically through corresponding apertures 23 inthe lid 14, and continuing through corresponding apertures 24 in thebase portion 12 of the module 10. There are four of these verticaltubular structures 22, one in each corner of the module 10, eachallowing a stake 25, ⅜″ wide and 24″ long, to secure the base portion 12in place. Each of the stakes 25 includes a head 26 of sufficientdiameter to engage the lid 14, thereby helping to hold down the lid 14.

In accordance with the present invention, the module 10 may be utilizedwhere waves and/or tides are not high enough to cover a three footmodule. The smaller module 10 of the present invention is also easier totransport and install than the larger module due to its weight and size.

The fitted lid 14, or the alternative threaded closure 14′, permitseasier fill of the module 10. Depending upon dynamics of the water, themodule 10 can be filled with ballast material, such as concrete, cement,gravel, sand, water or other materials, when positioned in place on theshore line. The ballast material forms around the tubular members 18 andthe tubular structures 22.

Smaller tubular structures passing from front to rear are appropriatefor the smaller module. The module is expected to be placed in areaswere there is less wave energy intensity than the larger modules.

The vertical tubular structures 22 serve two purposes. They allow stakes24 to pass through the lid 14 and the module 10 to assist holding downthe lid 14 and to help to secure the filled module 10 in place. Thefront side 19 of the module 10 is generally upwardly inwardly tapered.The rear side 20 of the module 10 may be upwardly inwardly tapered orsubstantially vertical.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations andmodifications may be effected without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation withrespect to the specific apparatuses illustrated herein is intended orshould be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appendedclaim all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claim.

1. An apparatus for rebuilding a sand beach along a shore linecomprising: a generally hollow module having an interior space, theinterior space adapted to be filled with ballast material, the modulehaving a landward surface and a generally opposing seaward surface whenpositioned along the shore line; a flow through passage extendingthrough the interior space between the landward surface and the seawardsurface, the flow through passage permitting flow of sand laden waterbetween the landward surface and the seaward surface; and a removableportal providing access to the interior space to permit introduction ofballast material into the interior space when the module is placed alongthe shore line.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portal isfittingly engaged to the module.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein theportal lid is threadably engaged to an upper surface of the module. 4.The apparatus of claim 1 including a plurality of the flow throughpassages.
 5. An apparatus for rebuilding a sand beach along a shore linecomprising: a generally hollow module having an interior space, theinterior space adapted to be filled with ballast material, the modulehaving a landward surface and a generally opposing seaward surface whenpositioned along the shore line; a flow through passage extendingthrough the interior space between the landward surface and the seawardsurface, the flow through passage permitting flow of sand laden waterbetween the landward surface and the seaward surface; and a removablelid providing access to the interior space to permit introduction ofballast material into the interior space when the module is placed alongthe shore line.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lid is fittinglyengaged to the module.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lid isthreadably engaged to an upper surface of the module.
 8. The apparatusof claim 5 including a plurality of the flow through passages.
 9. Theapparatus of claim 5 including: a generally vertical tubular structureextending through the module and aligned with an opening in the lid; anda stake having a head portion, the stake extending through the tubularstructure and the head engaging the lid to retain the lid to the module.10. A method of rebuilding a sand beach along a shore line comprising:providing a plurality of apparatuses along the shore line, theapparatuses comprising a generally hollow module having an interiorspace, the interior space adapted to be filled with ballast material,the module having a landward surface and a generally opposing seawardsurface when positioned along the shore line; a flow through passageextending through the interior space between the landward surface andthe seaward surface, the flow through passage permitting flow of sandladen water between the landward surface and the seaward surface; and aremovable lid providing access to the interior space to permitintroduction of ballast material into the interior space when the moduleis placed along the shore line; and filling the apparatuses with ballastmaterial when generally located in place.
 11. The method of claim 10wherein the removable lid is fittingly engaged to the module.
 12. Themethod of claim 10 wherein the lid is threadably engaged to an uppersurface of the module.
 13. The method of claim 10 wherein the moduleincludes a plurality of the flow through passages.